New arena location, final design will hinge on funding

Downtown advocates who came to city council recently weren’t asking that a new arena and entertainment complex be approved, they were pushing for where it would be built.

The emphasis on “where” not “whether” was no surprise. They see the complex as a done deal and are fighting to have it located right downtown.

But it raises an interesting point. Does the project already have a green light?

It would seem so. It is hard to see more than three “no” votes among 11 current council members.

The actual decision will fall to a new council following the municipal election later this month, but with only two new faces guaranteed on the next council, the project seems safe.

On the other hand, a lot could change between early next year when council is expected to vote on the proposal and a year or two down the road when a final commitment is needed.

That’s an important consideration. The consultants who produced a comprehensive review of whether the city should replace the aging Memorial Centre make it very clear that a preliminary “yes” vote is not final approval.

The refer to two critical “caveats” – a council decision to move forward with planning and sufficient funding.

Their advice is to start detailed “implementation planning” based on a firm budget commitment but be aware that if the money isn’t there the project might need to be shut down or scaled back.

It’s similar to what just happened with the city’s new arena-aquatic centre at Trent University. The building was designed with a pool but not a commitment to build one. When the provincial government came through with an $18-million grant the pool was confirmed.

This larger project has a 5,500-seat arena and necessary extras at an estimated $72 million. Add a second ice surface and the price jumps to $84 million.

Planning for both options could go ahead while the city waits to hear what contributions would come from the province and Ottawa.

But there is a crucial difference. At Trent there was vacant land to add the pool, while space is an issue with the arena/entertainment centre.

The consultants rank Morrow Park as the best of six possible sites, partly because the city already owns it and partly because there is room for a second ice pad.

However, lots of people would like to see it much closer to downtown. The two identified downtown sites are not big enough for two ice surfaces and could barely fit the $72-million design.

Those downtown advocates promoted a plan first proposed by Mayor Daryl Bennett: use the soon to be vacant city public works yard and buy two adjacent commercial plazas to create a 22-acre site.

However, that would add tens of millions of dollars to the cost, perhaps more than $50 million.

Would the higher price be worth it in the long run? The consultants refer to spin-off economic benefits to justify a new arena – primarily spending on food and hotel rooms.

Those benefits are greater with a second pad to attract tournaments and greater again if the centre is within walking distance of downtown bars and restaurants.

What all that means is that next to funding, location could be both the single most important factor in future success and the most complex issue to decide.

The consultants rank Morrow Park as the best of six possible sites